National Sports Day 2020: Sports Stars Pay Tribute To Major Dhyan Chand On His Birth Anniversary
National Sports Day 2020: India captain Virat Kohli and Virender Sehwag were among many who paid their tribute to legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand on his 115th birth anniversary.
Highlights
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Major Dhyan Chand led India to three Olympic gold medals
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Sehwag paid tribute, calling for a Bharat Ratna to be awarded
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The hockey star's original name was Dhyan Singh
Indian men's cricket team captain Virat Kohli and former opening batsman Virender Sehwag were among the many sports stars who took to social media to pay their tributes to legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand on his 115th birth anniversary. Major Dhyan Chand led India to three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. He played a crucial role in India's 8-1 triumph over Germany in the 1936 Berlin Olympic final, emerging as the top-scorer with three goals. He was also the leading goal-scorer at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, scoring 14 goals. Major Dhyan Chand has been conferred with several honours, which includes India's third highest civilian honour of Padma Bhushan in 1956. Sehwag paid tribute to Major Dhyan Chand, calling for a Bharat Ratna to be awarded to the "legend".
"Simply the greatest there ever is Folded hands #NationalSportsDay #1936 #UnitedinSport #India #Gold," Kohli tweeted.
Simply the greatest there ever is #NationalSportsDay #1936 #UnitedinSport #India #Gold pic.twitter.com/kgf4eE0yz8
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) August 29, 2020
"Tributes to the Bharat Ratna, Major Dhyanchand on his birth anniversary. It's high time the legend who is a Bharat Ratna receives the Bharat Ratna. #NationalSportsDay," the former India opener tweeted.
Tributes to the Bharat Ratna, Major Dhyanchand on his birth anniversary. It's high time the legend who is a Bharat Ratna receives the Bharat Ratna.#NationalSportsDay pic.twitter.com/NdmqMldOiO
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 29, 2020
Laxman further described Major Dhyan Chand as "one of the most inspiring sportsman the world has ever seen".
"Heartfelt tributes to one of the most inspiring sportsman the world has ever seen, the legendary Major Dhyanchand on his birth anniversary. #NationalSportsDay," he tweeted.
Heartfelt tributes to one of the most inspiring sportsman the world has ever seen, the legendary Major Dhyanchand on his birth anniversary. #NationalSportsDay pic.twitter.com/j2l1G1hrgo
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 29, 2020
KL Rahul and Shubman Gill too paid their tributes to the "magician of hockey".
Celebrating the magician of hockey on #NationalSportsDay #1936 #UnitedinSport #India #Gold pic.twitter.com/JqsDtQVJYu
— K L Rahul (@klrahul11) August 29, 2020
My tribute to one of the India's greatest sporting icons Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary. Also, wishing all the athletes from our country a very happy #NationalSportsDay
— Shubman Gill (@RealShubmanGill) August 29, 2020
Major Dhyan Chand scored more than 400 goals in a career spanning over 22 years. The legendary hockey player served as the chief coach at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala for a short period, following his retirement.
He also taught at many coaching camps in Rajasthan. Interestingly, the hockey star's original name was Dhyan Singh.
However, he was named Chand - 'the moon' by his teammates, as he used to practice in the moonlight, as there were no floodlights in India at the time.
Virender Sehwag